Summary
- Air India is to deploy the A350 on two Delhi-London services starting September 2024.
- The Airbus A350 offers upgraded business, economy, and new premium economy cabins.
- Air India aims for 90% of London services to feature new cabins by September 2024.
Air India is set to deploy its flagship Airbus A350 aircraft on two of its services to London from India’s capital city, Delhi. This service upgrade will come into effect starting September 2024, and it will include not only the airline’s newest widebody aircraft but also upgraded interior cabins.
Route Upgrade
Starting Sunday, September 1st, Air India will commence deploying its newest widebody aircraft type – the Airbus A350-900 on its premium route connecting Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and London Heathrow Airport (LHR). The carrier currently operates two daily services and a third service on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Of the 17 weekly flights, all of which are currently operated by Boeing 777s (300ERs and 200LRs) and Boeing 787-8s, the two daily services will be upgraded to Airbus A350s.
Service |
Departure |
Arrival |
Aircraft Type |
---|---|---|---|
AI161 |
02:45 |
07:30 |
Boeing 787. The A350 will be deployed starting in September. |
AI111 |
06:45 |
11:30 |
Boeing 777-200LR/-300ER. The A350 will be deployed starting in September. |
Photo: Air India
Flight AI165 will remain unchanged. The service will be operated three times a week utilizing the airline’s fleet of Boeing 787-8s.
The airline CEO, Campbell Wilson, stated,
“With our industry-leading cabin products on the A350 including a new Premium Economy experience and a host of new on board enhancements rolling out, we are confident that these daily flights between India and London Heathrow will soon be the preferred choice for travellers.”
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Capacity changes
With the deployment of the A350s, the airline will experience a considerable change in the capacity available and, subsequently, an increase in revenue from premium passengers. The A350 will feature the airline’s upgraded business and economy class cabins and its new premium economy cabin.
When compared to the 787s, the A350 offers 26 additional seats in economy (+10.9%), 10 additional business class seats (+55.5%), and a whole new cabin of 24 premium economy seats.
Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying
Considering the A350-900 is smaller than the Boeing 777-300ER, the seating capacity available will decrease. While the first-class product disappears entirely (as is the trend with many airlines worldwide), the airline will still experience better revenue because of the newer business class products, premium economy cabins, and lower operating costs offered by the Airbus A350.
The savings in efficient operations are considerable when comparing the economics of the A350 to the Boeing 777-200LRs.
Not just Delhi
Apart from flights to London from the capital city, the airline will also be upgrading its services to London Heathrow from Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (BOM). The airline currently operates two daily services on this route, utilizing its fleet of Boeing 777-300ERs.
While the airline will continue operating this aircraft type on this route, it will upgrade these two daily services by utilizing the 777-300ERs with the new cabins retrofitted onto them.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying
Because London is a premium destination, the airline aims to have 90% of all Air India services to London feature new and upgraded cabins starting September 2024.
The airline most recently began deploying the A350s on services to Dubai International Airport (DXB), and it will increase its A350 destinations as it takes delivery of more aircraft of the type. The airline has also purchased over 20,000 new economy and premium economy seats for its 787s, 777s, and A350s.
Related
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Have you flown on Air India’s brand-new A350s? Let us know in the comments below!